My advice to you before reading this book: Eat well. And get that dessert. Because you'll be kicking yourself it you don't, after you finish 3.5 stars
My advice to you before reading this book: Eat well. And get that dessert. Because you'll be kicking yourself it you don't, after you finish this book.
This lives up to the title and then some. Both Luc and Emma are grieving for a lost job - Luc's hockey career because of chronic concussions, and Emma being axed from her popular TV show. Both are hiding away from the world, and frankly if I had access to a secluded estate in Montecito, I would too. As they each have to face life after these major changes, they grow closer, and yup, romance happens.
The writing is lush, the pace is languid, the food is luxuriously decadent. Is it relatable? Not in the least. It's a very rarified, pretty rich atmosphere that I couldn't relate to at all. Are the descriptions of dessert and food in general, at times overwhelming? Oh you bet your honey pie it is. As a person with diabetes, I was just a wee bit bitter eating my sugar-free cookie, let me tell you.
But when it comes down to it, there's some really stellar chemistry between Luc and Emma, some fun banter between them and his relatives on the estate, it's an absolute escapist fantasy and sometimes, that's just what you need. I know I did. ...more
[image] I love Bootleg Springs and I love revisiting Scarlett and Devlin. I only liked Jameson and Leah Mae. This was a very pleasant story with a nice[image] I love Bootleg Springs and I love revisiting Scarlett and Devlin. I only liked Jameson and Leah Mae. This was a very pleasant story with a nice couple. It just lacked the tension and the passion of the first book. Then again, Scarlett was a kickass heroine, Devlin had the right mix of alpha in the sheets/beta in the streets that I love and it's hard to live up to IMO. I liked the little tidbits for the overarching mystery, and I absolutely will continue with this series. This just had a different vibe to the story and if a relatively easy read is what you're in the mood for, you may enjoy this.
[image] The Good. This debut by Ms. Brynolf has some cute moments for Callie and Bash (aka Sebastian), and their long running misunderstanding-laden rel[image] The Good. This debut by Ms. Brynolf has some cute moments for Callie and Bash (aka Sebastian), and their long running misunderstanding-laden relationship. I have a soft spot for actor romances, and I’ve enjoyed several young actors in love stories. That they’re theater kids falling in love, well I was prepared for some melo to come with that drama. They’re both navigating their feelings and their school play after an extended time apart while Bash went to Great Britain to study abroad for a couple of years. I liked their set of friends and the general college vibe was genuine. While there’s a fairly serious subplot involving a professor, the overall tone is very young and light, and funny.
The Bad. Without major spoilers, I have to say the biggest issue I had with this story is the big misunderstanding could have been resolved with one question. One. Allegedly, Callie and Bash are “best friends” but the reader is never allowed into that friendship except on the surface. Any opportunity for some dialogue, real conversations to show their connection is glossed over in favor of focusing on the “impossible” longing for Bash. Callie had deeper discussions with her friend Evie than Bash.
It was frustrating and not in the good way. The answer was way too simple and the author never gives a good explanation as to why Callie had gotten the impression she had in the first place. It didn’t make sense emotionally, and there’s not alot of time that passes until it’s pretty much pushed aside and just ignored in favor of the HEA, which made it less than satisfactory.
Also, the story could have been so much better if the reader had been given time in Bash’s head way, way earlier. At least the misunderstanding could have, perhaps, made more sense, or at least given a solid basis for Calie’s impression, so that the reader doesn’t heap all the blame on Callie.
Everything in Between As I said earlier, the new adult setting, as well as the fact that they’re actors with a tendency towards the dramatic made the constant lack of communication understandable to an extent, even if I was very frustrated.
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It’s cute and funny at times, but I really struggled with the misunderstanding being so easy to dispel and that it dragged on for way, way too long. There are moments throughout that I enjoyed, so I wouldn’t be adverse to checking out this author in the future, even if this particular story didn’t quite work for me.
I enjoyed this. As characters, I liked Bancroft and Ruby. Yes, Ruby drove me a little crazy with her occasionally overly dramatic, qui3.5 stars
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I enjoyed this. As characters, I liked Bancroft and Ruby. Yes, Ruby drove me a little crazy with her occasionally overly dramatic, quick to react ways, and Bancroft’s gift of vague communication certainly lead to its fair share o’ drama. To be fair, it also brought a heaping helping of hot sexual tension, humor and lots of sexual innuendo. This is technically a slow burn, but there was ALOT of sex on the brain. I mean if they weren’t thinking about banging each other, they were self-banging while thinking it. Or flirting with each other. Basically, smutty times.
I would have loved a wee bit more on the emotional side but I have no doubt these two characters are super hot for each other and the fun far outweighed any disappointment. If you want a light hearted comedy with lots of UST, you may enjoy this.
**ARC provided by publisher via netgalley for review**
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